Flashlight



A. c. SACHSEY.

FLASHLIGHT.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2 I920.

1,384,636. Patented y 12, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- 'A. C. SACHSE.

FLASHLIGHT. APPLICATION FILED SEPT; 2, 1920.

1,384,636, Patented July 12, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR C. SACHSE, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

FLASHLIGIIT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 2, 1920. Serial No. 407,730.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR C. SAoHsn, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Flashlights, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to provide a portable flash light which is adapted to operate without the use of batteries, and which therefore within the range of durability of the mechanical parts entering into its construction is adapted to remain indefinitely in an operative condition without the recharging or the re lacement of any of its parts or elements. urthermore it is the obgect to' provide a flashlight of the magneto type wherein the maximum current supply ing operation of the generator is secured at the instant that the controlling element of the device is operated for the purpose of supplying the light, to avoid the inconvenience of awaiting an appreciable period of time for the generator to reach its normal or maximum speed of operation, and with these objects in view the invention consists in a construction and combination of parts of which the preferred embodiment is shown in the drawing wherein:

Figure l is.a front view of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view' of the same. I

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail section on the plane indicated by the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

The casing may be provided with any suitable concentrating lens 11 in operative relation with which is arranged a reflector 12 for properly projecting the light of the lamp 1 3 fitted in any suitable or approved form of socket 14, and in order to permit of the use of the device as a means of giving danger or other signals a colored medium such as a red shutter 15 may be mounted adjacent to the inner surface of the front wall of the casing, ivoted as at 16 and having its lower arm 1 7 provided with a finger hold 18 projecting through a slot 19 in said front wall within easy reach of the operator of the lam Tlie magneto generator indicated at 20 is of the shunt wound self-excited type adapt ed for actuation by an operating spring 21 connected by a train of gears 22 with the shaft 23 of the generator, the latter being grounded as at 24 and having a terminal 25 arranged in operative relation with the lamp socket, the same being suitably supported by insulation 26. The spring is adapted to be wound by means of shaft 27 having the exterior finger hold 28 disposed at the rear of the casing adjacent to the handles 29.

The means for controlling the operation of the spring and hence of the generator consists of a stem 30 mounted for reciprocatory movement in suitable guides 31 supported by the casing and yieldingly held in its nonoperative or retroactive position by a spring 32, and said stem carries a rack 33 for engagement with a gear 34 forming a part of the train between the operating spring and the generator and also a releasing seat or concave 35 which when arranged in registration with the gear serves to release the latter and permit the actuation of the generator by means of its spring. The spring 32, perforce, is of sufficient strength to retain the stem 30 in its elevated position when the device is not in use. Otherwise the main spring 21 will operate to depress the stem and thus actuate the motor.

The stem is preferably provided with a retainer notch 36 adapted for engagement with a suitable catch formed by the edge of the wall of the casing bounding the opening through which the stem extends as shown at 37, and the stem is yieldingly held in position to cause engagement of the notch with said catch by means of a spring 38.

Thus when the parts are in a position with the controlling stem in its normal or elevated position, the toothed rack 33 is in engagement with the gear 34 and the generator is thus locked against movement. When it is desired to use the light it is only necessary, as shown in Fig. 4, to depress the stem which is provided for that purpose with a terminal button 39, sufficiently to deposit the concave 35 of the stem in registration with the gear 34, to permit the operating spring to communicate motion through the train of: gears to the generator and obviously the light will be supplied as long as the conditions remain as indicated, the stem being held in its depressed position by the engagement of the retaining notch 36 with the case 37. When it is desired to check the operation or discontinue the use of the light it is only necessary to press the stem rearwardly sufiiciently to disengage the retaining notch from the catch when said stem will be returned bv its Patented July 12, 1921.

spring 32 to the normal or inoperative position.

The effect of the rack 33 upon the gear 34 in the movement of the stem trom its nor meal to its gear releasing position is to turn said gear in the direction 1n which it will be operated by the operating spring 21 in driving the generator, and hence the depression of the stem to start the light service to give the mechanism an initial or starting impulse a rate which will be maintained by the spring, and therefore the production of the light is simultaneous with the depression of the stem. l lhen the spring motor, by continued operation of the device has run down, is wound up by means of the finger hold 28, the stem 30 being depressed during the pe riods oi winding and being allowed to resume its normal position each time a new grip is obtained on the finge hold. Such operations continue until the full energy of the main spring 21 is rendered potential.

/Vhat is claimed is:

1., A. flash light having a lamp and magneto generator, actuating spring for the generator, a train of gearing operatively connecting the spring with the generator, and a controllin device having a stem provided with a rack or engaging the gear element of said train to impart initial movement to the same in the direction of operative rotation, the rack being subsequently disengaged from said gear element.

2. A flash light having a lamp and magneto generator, a generator actuating spring and a train of gearing interposed therebetween, and a controlling device having a reciprocable stem provided with a successively arranged rack and concave for registration respectively with a unit of the gear train, the rack imparting initial movement to said gear train in the direction of operative rotation and means for yieldingly holding said stem in one of its adjusted positions.

3. A flash light having a lamp and magneto generator, a generator actuating spring, an interposed traln of gearing therebetween, and a controlling device having a reciprocable stem yieldingly held in one of its adjusted positions and provided with successively arranged rack and concave portions for alternate registration with an element of said gear train, the rack imparting initial movement to the train in the direction of operative rotation and means for securing the stem in its adjusted position.

4. A flash light having a lamp and magneto generator, a generator actuating spring and an interposed train of gearing, and a controllin device having a reciprocable stem yiel in ly held in one of its adjusted positions an provided with a rack and concave for successive registration with one of the units of the gear train, said stem being provided with a retainer notch for engagement with a catch in the adjusted position of the stem, the rack imparting initial movement to the gear train in the direction of operative rotation and a spring for yieldingly holding the stem in position for engagement of the notch with said catch.

testimony whereof I affix my signatare.

ARTHUR C. SACHSE. 

